Building construction



Sept. 11, 1928. 1,683,600

A. BLACK BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 29, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet I 66J1. INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY A. BLACK BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FlledJune 29, 1923 Sept. 11, 1928.

Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed June 29,

My invention relates to building construction and has for its object theprovision of a method which permits reduction in the cost of buildingconstruction, reduction in the time required for such construction andwhich, at the same time, permits the use of fire resisting materials andheat insulated types of buildings if such are desired.

It is well recognized that work which is done under factory conditionscan be accomplished with greater speed and accuracy, and at lower cost,than similar work which is done under other conditions such as thoseconditions under which building constructtion has heretofore beencarried on. In my method of building construction many ad vantages aremade available through the provision of a system by which the greaterpart of the work may be done under factory conditions, While the use ofskilled labor in the actual erection of the building is largelyeliminated.

My method consists of the manufacturing of buildings in substantiallycomplete units and the assembling of said units to form the building.While the. practice of constructing buildings in, so-called, sections,is old, my method differs in many ways from methods previously used andhas the advantages, among others, of being adaptable to use with almostany building material and particularly such as are fireproof, ofpermitting provision of a double or heat insulating wall, of permittingthe installation of pipes and other ducts, wires and such, within thewalls before erection of the building and of reducing the erection timeand cost by permitting a greater proportion of the labor to be performedunder factory conditions and by also permitting more etficient use ofthe materials. In the preferred application of my method ofconstruction, each unit of wall, floor, partition, stairway, roof,porch, etc, will be substantially complete in itself so that the laborrequired for erection of the building can be almost entirely confined tothat required for the assembling of the completed units and the makingup of fastenings and connections.

Fig. 1 shows one method of applying my system of construction to theassembly of a building, while Fig. 2 shows a typical section through oneof my wall units, this section being taken on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1,looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7and 8 show typical 1923. Serial No. 648,514.

details of my preferred methods of provid ing 'fastenings andconnections on and bctween the units and of ensuring ail-tightness ofthe joints between adjacent units. Fig. 9, shows a vertical sectionthrough an outer wall unit and illustrates one method of constructingsuch, while Fig. 10, shows an elevation of part of the outer face of thewall illustrated in Fig. 9. Fig. 11, shows a method of. providing floorsof materials such as wood with my units. Fig. 12, shows the face of asmall cabinet made integral with one of my wall units, while Fig. 13,shows a section through this cabinet taken on the line c--0 in Fig. 12,and facing in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 14, shows across section through the joint between two adjacent roof units, whileFig. 15, shows an alternate method of fastening my units together at thejoints. Fi 16, shows an application of my method 0 con struction tobuildings in which a steel frame is used to carry all or part of theload. Fig. 17, shows a cross section through one of my floor units inwhich the members have been designed to form a truss, while Fig. 18,shows the exterior face of two wall units at a joint and illustrates analternate method of preventing this joint from marring the appearance ofthe building.

Referring to Fig. 1, the outer walls are made in units 29, partitionwalls in units 30, and floors or ceilings in units 31. Each of thesewall, floor, ceiling, or other units is manufactured preferably of amoulded material and complete with all ornaments, trim, openings such asdoor openings 6, and window openings 7, and other irregularities, inplace and with both sides finished so that little or no further labor isrequired once they are assembled in place and the fastenings andconnections made up. However, although this is my preferred method, Imay find it desirable, in special cases, to manufacture the units andtrim or other appendages, separately and to assemble these to the unitsafter assembly of the units in the building, or' to manufacture theunits with semi-finished instead of finished surfaces, or to manufacturethe units with a single wall instead of a double wall, or to manufacturethe units partly or wholly of other than moulded materials.

Fig. 2, shows one method of manufacturing my wall and other units,window opening 7, outer facing 32, window stop 33, in-

ner facing 34, picture moulding 35, baseboard 36, finished outer surface37, finished inner surface 38, and bolt holes 39, or other fasteningmeans, being placed in position when the unit is manufactured. Toprevent excessive transmission of heat in extremes of weather and toreduce the amount of material required for construction of my units, aswell as to permit more economical dlSPO- sition of this material and toretard the penetration of moisture through outer wall units, an airspace 40, may be provided in any or all of the units whether outerwalls, partitions, floors, roof, or others. In several of theaccompanying figures, I have illustrated my units as made of concrete,or similar material, in order to show a specific application of mymethod. It will be obvious however, that my system may be also, and withequal facility, applied using hollow tile, gypsum, wood, paper-board, orother materials or combinations thereof, without regard to whether ornot such are at present used in the construction of buildings. platedthat the particular material, or combination of materials, to be usedwill be determined by local conditions, cost and by the purpose andrequirements of the building being erected.

Referring to Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8, where two or more units are to beconnected, these are preferably designed to be fastened toether by meansof bolts and nuts, bolt 41, being fastened into one of the units whilenut 42, is set in a recess 43, in the other. Recess 43, may be filled,covered over as with plate 44, or left open. In Figs. 4: and 5, wherepiping 15, is required for any purpose it is preferably providedcomplete in each unit, openings 46 with cover latcs 44, being alsoprovided for the ma (ing of pipe connections 47, while connection boxes48 are provided for the making of electrical connections. \Vherebathtubs, hand basins, toilet bowls, and similar facilities, such askitchen sink 49, are to be provided, the piping 45, is carried throughthe wall or other units, as required, to connections 50, while inserts51, are provided for the attaclnnent of supports 52, in order that thesefacilities may be installed in the assembled building with the minimumof labor. Similarly, connection block 53, or other means, may beprovided to facilitate the making up of electrical connections, whileceiling center 54, and similar ornaments or necessities, are providedready for such as fixture 55.

To ensure airtightness of all joints between units, I propose to makethese irregular or stepped, such as shown in Fig. 3, and other figures,and to provide grooves 56, which may be filled with some resilientmaterial when the units are being assembled, or which may be filled withsome such liquid as cement grout which hardens in place.

It is contem- Where the position of the seam is such as to require it, Imay provide holes 57, throu h which the grout, or such, may be poureinto grooves 56.

Referrin to Figs. 9 and 10, the main body of the wal consists of outerpart 58, inner part 59, and connecting parts 60. The inner part 59, maybe provided with a thin layer of material 61, formin a permanentlyexposed finished face, w ich may also be decorated by painting, papermg,etc., while the outer part 58, may be provided with a thin layer ofmaterial 62, moulded in imitation of stucco or other type of exteriorbuilding facing. If desired, imitation brick or stone finish may beobtained by the use of suitable moulds and by using a material 63, ofone color, to imitate the cement seams and a material 64, of anothercolor, to imitate the brick or stone. Another method, which might beused to obtain the desired finish, would be that of using thin insertsof real or imitation brick or stone in place of material 64. In the samemanner tiles could be moulded in place in wall or floor units. If thedesign of the floors, walls or partitions, and the materials used,require such, reinforcing 65, may be placed inside of the outer part 58,or inner part 59, or both of these parts, during the manufacture of theunits.

If it is desired to use material such as concrete for the constructionof floor units and, at the same time, to provide a floor surface of amaterial such as wood, this may be accomplished in the manner shown inFig. 11, where fastening strips 66, of suitable material such as wood,are cast or moulded as inserts in the body 67, of the floor unit.Finished surface 68, of thin wood or such, is then fastened to strips66, preferably before the floor unit is assembled into the building.

My method of construction of wall units greatly facilitates theprovision of conveniences, such as cabinets, flower boxes, etc., inthese as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. A recess 69, is provided in thewall unit 29, to form the cabinet while ornamental moulding 70, isprovided on the wall face 61, around this recess. Door 71, is providedwith hinges 72, set into 61, and with catch 73, which engages strike 74,this strike being set into 61. In manufacturing units of walls,partitions, etc., I prefer to use this method of inserting hinges,strikes, fastenings "and other such fittings, in the units durin theprocess of manufacture in order that tile use of skilled labor infitting such parts in the assembled building may be eliminated.

In the construction of roofs of buildin '5, my system may be applied inexactly die same manner as heretofore described for the construction ofwalls, partitions and floors. In the case of roof units, however, it isvery important that these be properly watertight and I propose toaccomplish this ob ect1n the manner illustrated in Fig. 14. Roof units75, and 76, are provided with st ffening beams 77, and a flange 78, onunit 76, which is arranged to abut flange 79, on unit 76, and to befastened thereto by bolt 41, and nut 42. The outer surface 80, of theroof may be designed and colored to imitate any desired type of roofing,an imitation of Spanish tile being shown in Fig. 14. Irregular grooves81, or such, are provlded in 78, and 79, and adapted to be filled withsuitable waterproofing material 82, to prevent leakage of water throughthe roof at the joints. Leakage of water through the material of whichthe roof units 75, and 76, are made, may be prevented either by using awaterproof material in their construction or by waterproofing theirsurfaces. Thus the entire roof may be suitably waterproofed.

It will be obvious that the methods of assembling buildings may begreatly modified without departing from the use of my method ofconstruction and I have shown,

in Fig. 15, another of the several methods which might be used in theconstruction of the joints. Wall units 29, are abutted against columnunit 83, and 29, and 83, are each provided with suitable grooves orrecesses 84:. Parts 29, and 83 can thus be fastened together by slidinglocking tongue 85, into recess 84, or by casting 85, in place after theother parts have been assembled. In Fig.

16, wherein I have shown my method of construction as applied tobuildings in which a steel frame is used, the columns 86, and floorbeams 87, which comprise the frame, are used to partly or wholly supportwall units 29, and floor units 31. Units 29, and 31, may be providedwith integral housings 88, or separate housings 89, may be used tosurround the steel frame and thus rotect it from the heat in case of afire brea ing out.

The various units 29, and 31, are fastened to the steel frame members86, and 87, either by being clamped around these as shown in Fig. 16 orby being bolted directly to them. In steel frame buildings, the weightof the walls and the floors represents a large proportion of the totalload which the frame is designed to carry. Accordingly, my system ofconstruction permits great economies through reducing this load.

Another advantage of my method of building construction is theeconomical use of the materials which it makes possible by facilitatingmore scientific design of the floor and wall members. As an example, Ihave shown, in Fig. 17, a cross section through a floor unit of a typewhich is particularly suited to use with materials which may be cast ormoulded to any desired form. This floor unit is provided with a floor orupper portion 90, a ceiling or lower portion 91, these being connectedby parts 92, the rest of the space between 90, and 91, being left openso that the complete structure forms a. truss. If the material usedrequires internal reinforcing, as would be the ease with con crcte, Ialso provide such reinforcing 93, to form a part of the whole truss.This reinforcing 93, may be carried to the ends of the unit and arrangedaround bolt holes 94, in such manner that any stresses in 93, aretransmitted directly into the bolts in 9 1, when the unit is assembledinto the building.

With my system of construction, vertical and horizontal seams willusually be located in the building walls, and it is desirable to eitheradapt these to form part of the design of the building or to otherwiserender them less conspicuous. In several of the accompanymg drawings,such as Fig. 3, I have shown part of the floor unit 31, extendedslightly outside of the line of the wall units 29, thus giving theappearance of a water table to what would otherwise be an unsightlyseam. Similarly, in other of the accompanying drawings, such as Fig. 8,I have shown one of the wall units 29, slightly extended beyond thesurface of the other wall unit 29, thus causing the seam to appear to bean ornamental line on the building wall. In Fig. 18, I have illustratedanother method of preventing the seams from marring the appearance ofthe walls. In this case, abutting wall units 95, and 96, shown slightlyseparated in the drawing for purposes of illustration, are surfaced inimitation of brick construction 64, in the manner heretofore described,and the abutting edges of 95 and 96, are provided with alternateprojections 97, and recesses 98, which are arranged to fit together insuch manner as to give the appearance of a continuous brick wall whenunits 95 and 96 are assembled together, the seam in the outer facefollowing the lines of the apparent seams between the imitation bricks.

Having thus described my invention. I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A buildin comprising a series of moulded portab eunits, means for securing the assembled units together to form thebuilding, duct sections extending through the units in alignment witheach other in the assembled building, couplings interposed betweenaligned sections of ducts for the fluid-tight connection thereof, andrecesses for accommodating the said couplings.

2. A buildin comprising a series of moulded portab e units, means forsecuring the assembled units together to form the building, ductsections extending through the units, in alignment with each other inthe assembled building, couplings interposed between aligned sections ofducts for the fluid-tight connection thereof, recesses for accommodatingthe couplings, and means for accessibly inclosing the said couplings.

3. A building comprising a series of moulded units of the characterdescribed, aligned pipes extending from edge to edge of the units andformlng an integral part thereof, coupling pieces on the pipe ends forthe attachment 0 the aligned ends of the pipes in adjacent units, andopenings for permitting communication between said pipes and the insidefaces of the units.

4. A building comprising a series of moulded units of the characterdescribed, aligned pipes moulded between the outer and inner faces ofthe units and extending from edge to edge thereof, and means forproviding a fluid-tight connection between the aligned ends of the pipesin adjacent units.

5. A building comprising a series of moulded units of the characterdescribed, aligned conduits for water, gas, electric conductors or thelike, coupling pieces for the connection of aligned conduits in adjacentunits, and ri 'ht angle sections extending from the said conduitsthrough the inner side face of the units.

6. A building comprising a series of moulded units of the characterdescribed, aligned metal pipes extending from edge to edge of the unitsbetween the inner and outer side faces thereof, coupling pieces betweenthe aligned edges of the pipes in adjacent units, recesses or givingaccess to the said couplings and covering means for said recesses.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, this29th day of May, 1923.

AROHIBALD BLACK.

